The best rides in northern Spain
The mountains on Spain’s northern coast are a riding paradise. Here’s our guide to the must-ride roads
1 N-621 — Unquera to Leon (118 miles) Everyone knows this road: from the moment it leaves the coast-hugging A8 motorway until it reaches Leon 115 miles later, it combines being a superbly useful route with stunning riding. It can get frustrating if you’re stuck behind a truck in the tight La Hermida gorge, but the run over the San Glorio pass is simply astonishing.
2 AS-14 — AS-15 to Grandas de Salime (36 miles) From the moment it turns off the AS-15 until it rolls into the small town of Grandas de Salime, this is a rollercoaster of a road clambering along steep valley sides before climbing over the Del Palo pass. From that high point, there’s a drawn-out descent to the Salime dam delivering thrills and views in equal measure.
3 CA-261 — Solares to Ramales de la Victoria (25 miles) This road over the Alisas pass in the Cantabrian mountains delivers massive views over a lush green landscape. If you’re following road signs to find it, the first three miles from Solares are badged as the CA-161.
4 BI-3231 — BI-635 to Gerrikaitz (8 miles) Technically, the Basque mountains aren’t in the Picos but they are part of the same chain of Cantabrian mountains — and they’re stuffed with amazing roads. The BI-3231 is dizzyingly twisty. Pairs well with the more-sweeping BI-3447 to head out to the coast.
5 N-623 — Santander to Burgos (101 miles) Why can’t all trunk roads be this good? The main road from Santander to Burgos is wide, wellsurfaced, surprisingly quiet (most of the traffic is on the motorway a few miles west) and loaded with mile-eating straights and stunning corners — from sweepers to first-gear hairpins.
6 LU-530 — A Fonsagrada to Lugo (37 miles) As you head west (technically leaving the Picos for the mountains of Galicia) the roads seem to get quieter. They get twistier, too: the bike’s barely upright between A Fonsagrada and Lugo on the LU-530.
7 LE-481 — CL-626 to Teverga (22 miles) If you want to get a sense of the mountains getting closer and closer, head out from the plains and climb into the Picos on the LE-481 over the Ventana pass. Leaving Leon for Asturias, the road number becomes the AS-228 – it’s a great ride to the end, where it meets the N-634.
8 AS-260 — Colunga to Arriondas (15 miles) This short but stunning road passes one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the Picos: the Mirador del Fitu. It’s a beautiful, flowing, rewarding ride. The views are best heading towards the coast but if riding inland, it’d be criminal not to keep heading south-east on the N-625, all the way to Riaño.
9 CA-281 — Puentenansa to Cervera de Pisuerga (40 miles) A road of two halves (it becomes the CL-627 as it enters Castille & Leon). The initial climb to the Cohilla reservoir is one of the finest mountain roads you’ll ever sample — stacked hairpins, tunnels and breathtaking views. The run down is no less thrilling but with longer straights and open corners.
10 BU-556 — Berberana to Orduna (9 miles) One of the shortest roads on our list, but boy, does it pack a lot into those miles, as it drops from the Orduna pass down to the town in a cascade of broad, immaculate corners. Tie it in with the AS-2521 and the AS-2622 for a superb ride.